Two officers killed in a blast while conducting a covert mission in
Afghanistan have been named by the Ministry of Defence.

It is the first time two officers have been killed in a single bombing incident while travelling together in a vehicle in Afghanistan.

Captain Tom Jennings, of the Special Boat Service, and Squadron Leader Anthony Downing, died when their vehicle was targeted by the Taliban near the capital Kabul.

It is understood that the men were part of a special forces team that had been in contact with Afghans on an “outreach patrol” with Squadron Leader Downing acting as an interpreter.

As a trained Dari speaker who had come top of his language course Sqn Ldr Downing was making contact with Afghans to win them over the Kabul government side.

The Ministry of Defence has not released further details due to the covert nature of the mission. However special forces are used to escort MI6 officers and other intelligence officials for meetings with sources or to persuade Taliban commanders to change sides.

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It is not known what vehicle they were travelling in but British special forces generally travel in the Australian-made Bushmasters that have high protection against mines.

Capt Jennings, 29, was described as “a true leader, selfless in his professional approach”.

The commando, who was originally in the Royal Marines before getting into SBS, also worked alongside local forces displaying “empathy and a broad cultural understanding that ensured he was highly valued by the Afghans”, the MoD said.

Capt Jennings died just three days before Christmas leaving behind a wife and two young sons.

A statement released by the MoD said: “He was devoted to his wife and their two young sons whose loss cannot be portrayed in words.”

Sqn Ldr Downing survived the initial blast and was airlifted back to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham but died a day later with his family by his bedside.

In a statement his parents said: “We treasure the memories and the achievements of his fantastic life and without him our lives have been diminished.”

He also leaves behind a brother and girlfriend,

The officer, an engineer, was the last to oversee the safety of the Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft before they were destroyed in the defence review earlier this year.

He was also a “stalwart” of the RAF Kinloss Mountain Rescue Team and had previously been a volunteer for the Samaritans

Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, said the “pain felt” by the families before Christmas “must have been compounded by this terrible news coming at a time of year when the focus for most of us is on family”.